Justice for the Damned (37 page)

‘Mummy!’ howled Edward. ‘Mummy!’

Staying close to the wall, Doug approached the door. There was a slight paleness under his tan. ‘I’m going to wash my face. Do you…’ He swallowed, then went on, ‘Do you want a cup of tea or anything?’

Again, Tyler showed no sign of having heard. His gaze travelled Edward’s body as if weighing up which part to slice off first. Closing the door behind himself, Doug went into the kitchen and splashed water on his face at the sink. His shoulders stiffened as another scream ripped through the house. He moved quickly to close the kitchen door. Then he filled the kettle. There was no tea or milk, so he made a black coffee. As he sat sipping it, more screams pounded on his brain. On and on they went, until he felt like plugging his ears. He didn’t consider himself a squeamish person. He’d seen plenty of blood over the years, much of it spilled by his own hands. But this… you had to be a soulless fucker to do something like this.

Pressing a tissue against his bleeding fingers, Reece headed back to his car. With a deep breath, he forced himself to settle down and wait and watch. Minutes ticked by. An hour. Two hours. The cindery sun dipped behind the hills of Sheffield. The gate swung open and the Audi rolled into view. Liam got out and locked the gate, then accelerated away. Reece waited until he reached the end of the street, before pulling after him.

He followed the Audi through Hillsborough to Rivelin Valley Road. Houses gave way to trees and fields, and beyond them, steep hills dissolving into the darkening sky. Feeling more conspicuous away from the city, Reece dropped as far back as he dared. He put on a burst of speed when a patch of mist obscured the Audi from view. Beyond the mist, the first fingers of moonlight were touching Ladybower Reservoir, and Liam was heading into the coils of the Snake Pass. Several miles away to the east, a helicopter searchlight was sweeping over the high ridge of Stanage Edge. Reece reflected that it was probably searching for a missing hiker or climber. His dad had often used to take him hiking on Stanage as a child. The Mountain Rescue helicopter was a common sight up there.

Reece wondered grimly what purpose Liam had for driving out into the middle of nowhere. There was an obvious one he could think of – finding a body dump site. There were plenty of lonely places out here where a body could lie undiscovered for months, years, maybe even forever.

Reece kept losing sight of Liam as the road wound its way across the dark spine of the Pennines. He resisted the temptation to draw closer, knowing the Audi’s taillights would come back into view beyond each bend. But then he rounded a corner and they weren’t there. Glancing rapidly from side to side, he spotted the lights heading along a dirt track that branched off the main road. With a mixture of relief and foreboding, he cut his lights and turned onto the track. He drove slowly, almost at a walking pace. When Liam stopped, Reece did likewise and turned off the engine. The Audi’s headlights illuminated a farm gate. Liam opened it, pulled the car forwards, then reclosed it and continued on his way.

Reece pulled up by the gate. There were two signs on it, but it was too dark to read them. It wasn’t too dark to see the chain that secured the gate. He was going to have to continue on foot. He climbed over and broke into a jog. His pace faltered as a scuffling, scratching sound came from beneath the trees that were clustered to either side of the track. He pulled out the Glock, squinting into the darkness. There was nothing to be seen. His nostrils quivered at a musky animal smell. Was this place some kind of farm? he wondered. Or was it a wild animal he’d heard? He started after the Audi again. It was several hundred metres away now, but he wasn’t overly afraid of losing it. An impassable mass of hills loomed in the near distance.

Beyond the edge of the woods was a grassy field with a small collection of buildings at its far side. The Audi’s bobbing headlights revealed a farmhouse and several barns. Reece hopped over a drystone wall and scurried across the field. In many places the grass had been worn away to muddy earth that sucked at his trainers. The animal smell was much stronger here, rancid rather than musky. At the edge of the farmyard, he dropped down behind a rusty bath that served as a water trough.

Liam was bending over the boot of the Audi again. He lifted out a long, sausage-shaped object wrapped in black plastic and duct tape. As he hoisted it over his shoulder, an arm decorated with a familiar Celtic band tattoo flopped into view.

Amber! Reece pressed his forehead against the bath, eyes closed. He’d come so close, so fucking close to the life he longed for. But it had slipped from his grasp, even as he’d taken hold of it. There was no more doubt. No indecision. No choice. He knew what he had to do.

Outside the kitchen window, a thickening veil of darkness drew down. And still the agonised cacophony continued. It swelled to a shrieking, sobbing crescendo, then suddenly stopped. Tyler came into the kitchen, sweat glistening on his face, his hands lathered in blood. He approached the sink.

There was a kind of hidden wariness in Doug’s eyes as they followed Tyler. ‘Is he dead?’

‘No. Passed out.’ Tyler washed his hands, then stooped to drink from the tap.

‘I take it he’s not told you anything.’

‘I’m not sure he’s got anything
to
tell.’

‘So why don’t we just kill him?’

Wiping his wrist across his mouth, Tyler regarded Doug steadily with his dark, unreadable eye. Doug blinked away from his gaze. Tyler had a way of making him feel exposed, vulnerable, even weak, as if he could look into his mind and see his doubts, his insecurities. It was a feeling he wasn’t used to.

The sound of an approaching vehicle attracted their attention. ‘That’ll be Liam,’ said Doug, rising to his feet, relieved for the excuse to leave Tyler’s presence. He headed outside, his cocky grin back in place. But there was a kind of forced rictus about his expression that made it seem more like a scowl. ‘You made it,’ he said to Liam.

‘Yeah, although I thought I was going to have a fucking heart attack when I saw that helicopter. Where’s Tyler?’

His grin slipping a little, Doug jerked his chin at the house. He pointed to the bundle of plastic and duct tape. ‘Do you want a hand carrying that?’

Liam shook his head. ‘Nah, she doesn’t weigh more than a feather.’

As Liam carried Amber’s corpse into one of the barns, Reece took out his phone and dialled. Garrett came on the line sounding stressed. ‘DI Geary, is this urgent? I’m—’

‘Yes, sir,’ broke in Reece in an intense whisper. ‘There’s been a murder.’

‘What was that? You’ll have to speak up. There’s a lot of noise where I am.’

‘A murder,’ hissed Reece. ‘Someone’s been murdered. Doug Brody’s involved.’ The line was silent a moment. Garrett had heard him that time alright.

When the DCI next spoke, his voice was slow and grave. ‘Let me make sure I understand you perfectly, Detective Inspector Geary. You’re accusing a fellow officer of murder.’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘And you have proof of this?’

‘I’m looking at a dead body right now.’

There was another pause, then, ‘Where are you?’

‘I’m not sure exactly.’ Reece described the farm’s location as best he could, adding, ‘Doug’s here, along with at least two accomplices. I have reason to believe they’re armed and extremely dangerous.’

‘Listen carefully. I want you to stay put and keep your head down. We’re on our way to you. In the meantime, I’m going to put you on to Scott Greenwood, and you’re going to give him as much info as you can on your situation. Is that clear?’

‘Yes, sir.’ Reece’s voice was like lead. ‘That’s clear.’

As Reece fed Scott Greenwood tactical information, he watched Doug puffing agitatedly on a cigarette. When Liam reappeared, Doug dragged open the doors of a second barn. Liam backed the Audi inside it, the rear headlights illuminating a Golf GTI – undoubtedly the stolen GTI whose plates were on the BMW – Doug’s silver Subaru, and a red Subaru. Reece’s brows angled further down over his troubled eyes. Bryan Reynolds had last been seen driving a red Subaru. Was that why Doug had been so unconcerned about reprisals from the gangster? Was Reynolds’s body somewhere out here as well?

Doug and Liam went into the farmhouse. Reece relayed their movements to Scott, adding, ‘Do you want me to try and get a look through a window?’

‘No. Just hold tight,’ said Scott. ‘The AFOs will be with you soon.’

Hold tight.
The words made Reece want to grind his face into the mud. He was about to lose his job, his freedom and Staci. His mum was dead, his dad was dying. What the hell was there for him to hold tight to?

‘I don’t suppose you’ve got any idea where Jim Monahan is?’ went on Scott.

A dart of anxiety pierced Reece’s self-pity. ‘No. Why?’

‘We’ve found his car abandoned.’

‘Where?’

Scott hesitated a moment, before replying vaguely, ‘At a crime scene.’

It’s already starting. I’m already under suspicion.
Swearing inwardly at himself, Reece thrust the distressing thought away. He needed to stay focused. This wasn’t just about him. A fellow officer’s life might be at stake.

Tyler picked up a bucket and returned to the interrogation room. Edward’s head was slumped against his chest. He looked like a corpse in the process of being dissected. His nipples had been sliced off. There was a bloody hole where his right ear had been. His fingers and toes had been removed to the first knuckle. Two matching strips of flesh were missing from his thighs. Tyler scooped the severed bits and pieces into the bucket. Then he checked for a pulse in Edward’s wrist. There wasn’t one. He retrieved a stethoscope from the chest of drawers and listened at Edward’s chest. Silence.

Tyler took out his phone and dialled. When the call was answered, he said, ‘Forester’s dead.’

‘Did you find out what I need to know?’ enquired the voice on the other end of the line.

‘No.’

‘Then why is he dead?’

‘He must have had a weak heart. I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about, sir. He lived long enough for me to be almost certain that if he had anything to say, he would have said it.’

‘Almost certain isn’t fucking certain at all! Christ, why am I surrounded by idiots?’ An infuriated sigh filled the line. Then the voice continued in a more controlled tone, ‘What about our other problem? Have you spoken to him yet?’

‘I’m just about to.’

‘Then get to it. And try not to fuck it up this time.’

‘I didn’t fuck—’ Tyler stopped as the line went dead. He stared at the phone with a shade of something that might have been irritation in his eye. Whatever it was, it disappeared as Liam and Doug entered the room.

Liam puckered his lips into a mock wince at the sight of Edward. ‘That must have hurt.’

‘He’s dead.’

‘Did he talk?’ asked Doug.

‘No. But Monahan will.’

The three men headed for the basement. Jim and Margaret blinked up into the faces of their captors. ‘Hello there, Jim,’ said Liam. ‘Long time no see.’

‘Liam Collins. Why aren’t I surprised to see you here, you piece of shit?’ Jim’s voice was weak, but thick with contempt.

‘Best watch your fucking mouth,’ scowled Liam. He made as if to punch Jim, but Tyler caught his wrist.

‘No one touches him but me.’ Tyler squatted down by Jim, studying his face intently. ‘How are you feeling?’

Jim made no reply. The pain in his chest was coming and going. He felt faint and tingly, and seemed to have no strength in his right arm. But a little life had seeped back into his legs. He wasn’t about to tell Tyler that, though.

Tyler unlocked Jim’s chain, then handed the keys to Liam. ‘Bring the woman.’

Tyler hooked his forearms under Jim’s armpits and hauled him up the stairs. Jim made no attempt to use his legs. Every second he could buy would give a little more time for something to happen, for someone to come. Liam prodded Margaret along with a handgun. A flicker of surprise crossed Jim’s face as Tyler lugged him past the interrogation room. His surprise turned to revulsion at the sight of Edward Forester. If anyone deserved such a death, it was Forester. But still, it twisted something deep inside him to see the politician’s mutilated body.

A horrified cry escaped Margaret as she saw Forester. ‘Take a good look at him, bitch,’ sneered Liam. ‘You’re about to find out how that feels.’

The farmhouse’s front door opened. A dark-haired man in a bomber jacket and military-style black trousers emerged, walking backwards, dragging something. Reece glimpsed an arm dangling limply, followed by the rest of a body. He recognised Jim’s brown leather jacket and faded blue jeans.
Oh Christ, don’t let him be dead
,
he thought
.
A tiny spark of relief flared through him as Tyler – assuming that’s who the man was – turned so that his and Jim’s face were visible. Jim was deathly pale, but his eyes were open and alive. Tyler had a broad, expressionless face and a boxer’s flat nose. When Reece saw the gauze pad taped over his left eye, he knew he was looking at Amy Sheridan and Grace Kirby’s killer. Doug came out of the house next. Then a woman Reece had never seen before, her features taut with fear, her hands cuffed. Liam was close behind her, a handgun jammed against her spine.

The grim little procession made its way to the barn Liam had taken Amber’s body into. Reece waited until they were all inside, before rising and darting across the yard. As he peered around the barn door, a putrid smell of animal faeces filled his nostrils, causing his already churning innards to clench even tighter.

Tyler flicked a switch and a single strip light flickered dully into life. ‘Fucking hell,’ muttered Doug as his shoes sank into the thick green-brown slime that coated the floor. ‘These shoes are Italian leather. Handmade. They cost five hundred quid.’

‘Lower the harness,’ Tyler said.

Still muttering to himself, Doug ascended to the hayloft and cranked the winch handle. Tyler caught hold of the harness, secured it around Jim’s waist and motioned for Doug to take him up. Jim groaned as he was hoisted into the air and the harness bit into his groin. Taking out his knife, Tyler turned to Margaret and cut off her plasticuffs. He gestured at the ladder. ‘Up you go.’